Why some church pastors are like Walter White from 'Breaking Bad'

This image provided by AMC shows Bryan Cranston as Walter White in a scene from "Breaking Bad." More people are binge watching their favorite shows thanks to video streaming and On Demand services. For some, binging on TV shows and movies feels a whole lot like dating.

Pastors of megachurches receive high amounts of cash for their efforts. And it's called the "Walter White Problem."

Some pastors might learn a lesson from Walter White.

White, the chemistry teacher turned drug emperor of the “Breaking Bad” TV series, collected crazy amounts of cash and yet found no use for it. The same can be said for pastors of megachurches, who are struggling to find ways to spend the money that isn’t necessarily for them, but for their church, according to First Things.

“Unless they’re fully certified prosperity preachers, there’s a certain decorum that pastors must follow when spending their congregation’s money. When you live off money given to God, your public lifestyle ought to be just slightly constrained,” First Things said. “It’s the Walter White Problem. White couldn’t spend his fortune because it was dirty. Pastors can’t spend theirs because it’s holy.”

Popular Comments

I think a huge red flag is any church that won't disclose their spending.

9:15 p.m. March 21, 2014

Top comment

Stormwalker

Cleveland , OH

I am currently a member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Every penny
that comes in and every penny that goes out is accounted for and approved by the
board and is published in annual budgets and reports. I don't trust any
church that
More..

10:40 p.m. March 21, 2014

Top comment

1aggie

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

All churches need to fully disclose their finances (what came in and where it
went). Then this will not happen.

Herb has been involved in the journalism industry for eight years. Now the national news writer for Deseret News National and content manager of The Pulse, Herb previously worked at USA Today College and the Erie Times more ..